SOUTH DEVONS TOP AT 9,600 GUINEAS AT EXETER

There was strong demand for South Devons at their recent Spring Show & Sale held at Exeter Livestock Market with some keen bidding for the best bulls that saw the top price exceed £10,000. A good selection of 32 bulls and 13 breeding females were forward, with about 90% of the cattle finding new homes, mainly in the South West. Breed Secretary Caroline Poultney said, "We are seeing a reflection of the quality of the cattle forward, and it's really pleasing to see the strength of demand for both bulls and breeding females."

Judge of the Show was Mr Olliver Rounsevell from Lostwithiel, Cornwall, whose Highgate Farming Partnership herd is well known in breeding circles.  His Male Champion was a May 2016 born polled bull bred by T Kent, Shrewsbury, Shropshire and offered for sale by Roden Livestock from Telford, Shropshire.  Z Eyton Trusty 4 is by Wenfork Trusty 5 and out of Z Eyton SAS Dolly 7, with bloodlines including Trevassack, Tregotha, Billington and Betton; and a myostatin status of zero.  With Breedplan performance figures in the top 1% for growth and Quality Beef Index this bull was also awarded the Thornton Cup for combined points in performance and inspection; as well as Best Polled Bull.

Reserve Male Champion was Mells Park Impecabull from Mells Park Trust, Frome, Somerset.  This January 2016 born bull was the Society’s Best Junior Bull shown in 2017.  By Langham’s Hero and out of Mells Park Ariat who was also the dam of show stopper Mells Park Foxtrot, this bull’s breeding goes back to Welland Valley, Trevassack, Billington and Tregondale.

Best Pair of Bulls came from M R & R J Rowe, Menheniot, Liskeard, Cornwall with Tregondale Persius and Tregondale Persius 4, both zero myostatin, and by Waddeton Persius.

Z Eyton Trusty 4 went on to sell for 9,600 gns to Mr & Mrs R C Burrough & Sons, Axminster, Devon who themselves sold three bulls on the day.  The reserve champion Mells Park Impecabull found a home in Cornwall with J P Matthews & Son, Torpoint who also acquired a bull from the Waddeton consignment.

Next highest price was 5,700 gns for Mr P G H Tully’s Z East Farm Illistram 3 selling to Mr D Ashcroft,  Selborne, Hampshire; followed by 4,400 gns for B G & J Z A Dart’s Z Woodhayes Homer 26 selling to Mr P Walker; 4,300 gns for M R & R J Rowe’s Tregondale Persius 4 to G Martyn & Sons, Boyton, Cornwall; and 4,200 three times for Mr W H D Scott’s Grove Domitian 33 to Mr E Foale, Newton Abbot, Devon, for R J & C J Edwards’ Z Colcharton Jasper 12 to Mr T Cleave, Broadhempston, Devon, and for M R & R J Rowe’s Tregondale Persius to Collacombe Farm, Tavistock, Devon.

In the female section of the Show, the Champion was B G & J Z A Dart’s 2 year old polled heifer, AI Z Woodhayes Daffodil 59 by Australian sire Torr Down Marvel 3 and out of AI Woodhayes Daffodil 40.  She went on to sell as one of the two highest priced heifers at 2,200 gns, to Mr T J Warhurst, Banbury Oxfordshire who also bought at 1,800 gns a heifer from G W J & L F Pluess, Bude, Cornwall.  Reserve female champion was another heifer from the Pluess herd, Trevoulter Dywanna 4 who sold with her twin to Mr S E Bowden from Drewsteignton, Devon for 1,900 gns each, and this pair was also awarded the Greenslade Perpetual Cup. 

Z Waddeton Saffron 19 from The Tully Partnership, Brixham, Devon sold to Laity Farms, Cornwall for 2,200 gns.  Next highest female prices were 2,000 gns twice for Z Beckaveans Indiana 12 and Z Beckaveans Trudie 14 from Ms A Brookes, Jacobstowe, Cornwall both selling to Mr R J Throssell, Week St Mary, Devon.

Mark Bromell, Kivells auctioneer said, “It was the best trade for bulls that we have seen for some year, and demonstrates the increasing popularity of this breed.”

Averages: 28 bulls £3,679; 10 haltered heifers £1,958; 2 non haltered heifers £945; 8 cows £1,194

Auctioneers: Messrs Kivells